2016 Fantasy Baseball Rankings & ProjectionsThird Baseman #16

16. Maikel Franco PHIBA - .273HR - 24RBI - 81Runs - 68SB - 3

Franco was called up on May 15th of last season after starting the year in Triple A. He proceeded to play in 77 games before a wrist injury kept him out of the Phillies' lineup for most of the second half. The small wrist fracture forced Franco to miss a total of 45 games in August, September and October combined. Despite the injury Franco finished the season with 14 home runs, 50 RBI, 45 runs and a .280 batting average.

Franco, who was signed as a international free agent back in 2010, was pretty dominate in the minors from 2012 to 2014. In that span he hit 61 homers in 399 games. Maikel, while splitting time between High A Ball and Double A ball in 2013, won the Paul Owens award as the Phillies' Minor League Player of the Year. Other notable players that have won the Paul Owens award include Carlos Carrasco (2006), Michael Bourn (2006), Cole Hamels (2003), Ryan Howard (2003), Chase Utley (2002), Pat Burrell (1999), Jimmy Rollins (1997) and Scott Rolen (1996).

philly.com

Franco is one of my favorite sleeper picks this year due to his power and decent approach at the plate that should, in my opinion, allow him to hit for a decent average. Keep in mind, he had a decent 33.7% chase rate last season - the 23rd lowest among Third Basemen with at least 300 plate appearances. His chase rate was lower than other Third Basemen that rank higher than him in my rankings like Adrian Beltre, Mike Moustakas, Todd Frazier and Nolan Arenado.